Is accounting a good major?

<p>Over the past couple of months I've been doing research about what I want to major in and what schools I want to apply to. After narrowing my choice of professional field down to medicine or business, I chose business because I realize I'm not that passionate about science. After reading numerous threads on this website as well as doing my own research, it seems that the general consensus is that accounting is a good major because it's the "language of business" and can help you get into any field of business, and the job prospects for accountants seem to be very good for the next few years. But how difficult is an accounting major? I consider myself to be pretty good at math (I'm a junior in AP Calculus AB) but I've also heard that accounting has very little to do with math. I'm going to be taking Honors Economics next year, but I've heard that Economics is very theoretical, whereas accounting is not. My school does not offer any accounting classes, although it does have an Intro To Business class that I'm taking next year as a Practical Art. If anyone can give me any personal opinions about accounting as a major, I would be greatly appreciative.:)</p>

<p>In case it matters, I live in Southern California (specifically Santa Clarita). I am a junior at a public high school. My cumulative GPA thus far is 4.3, unweighted is around a 3.8. I am not currently in any extracurricular activities, although I am a member of multiple clubs and perform various community service activities every month. I haven't taken the SAT or ACT yet, but I got a 1780 on the PSAT (really bad I know, I'm studying hard for the March SAT..). I've made a list of schools that I tentatively want to apply to:
•NYU
•USC
•Northeastern University
•Boston University
•UCSB
•UC Irvine
•Cal Poly SLO
•SDSU
•CSUN
I honestly don't think I'll be able to get into NYU, USC, Northeastern, or Boston U, but I would like to apply to them anyways because they are all very good schools and have excellent accounting programs (plus Northeastern has a 5-year program that I'm very interested in), and I would like to go to any of those schools. I don't really want to apply to CSUN because it's so close to home, but my mom thinks its a good backup school if I don't make it into any of the schools above. So again, if anyone could help me figure out if accounting is right for me, I would greatly appreciate it :]</p>

<p>It is a good major with good job prospects. However, it won’t be like any of the classes you taken in high school.</p>

<p>I would take your first accounting class during freshman year and see if it is for you. Some people enjoy the subject and some people hate the subject.</p>

<p>I can’t really add much to your question about Accounting, but I’m currently a college freshman who is seriously looking into Accounting/Economics double major at Penn State.</p>

<p>Based on your grades and scores, I definitely think you can get into all the schools on your list. With practice and familiarization, you can easily break 1900 or 2000. With a score of 1900, and along with your gpa, you can easily get into NYU and USC (but it also depends on which school within the university you are applying to) with good “ECs” and strong essays.</p>

<p>Yeah I’d say it’s a good major.</p>

<p>Thank you all so much for the advice! I’ve tentatively decided to do accounting and see how I like the first class before I decide on keeping it as my major. And I’ve also decided to add University of Washington in Seattle and University of Oregon to my list after doing more research (obviously I have to narrow my list down to 8ish schools before I start applying to colleges). Thanks again to everyone for the advice :)</p>

<p>accounting is good, but its tough. Its not mathy, its “process-y”. thats the best way i can describe it. its a bunch of processes and steps that you need to know to do certain things. obviously when dealing with numbers like dollars, machine hours, whatever the case may be, theres math, but dont think of it as like calculus stuff. its mostly adding/subtracting and multiplying/dividing. </p>

<p>but if any math or science majors tell you business classes are a joke (which is probably true for the softer ones like management), have them do some job costing and see what they think.</p>

<p>“but if any math or science majors tell you business classes are a joke (which is probably true for the softer ones like management), have them do some job costing and see what they think.”</p>

<p>domrom1, I have degrees in accounting and chemical engineering (which is highly process oriented), and have done both professionally, I am very comfortable saying that job costing is a piece of cake compared to optmizing process inputs and outputs.</p>

<p>xenon, is there a reason you are considering schools in NY and Boston? Is there a reason why Nolrtheastern is preferable to San Diego or Santa Clara which, from my research, appear to be similar in rankings?</p>

<p>What world do you live in, DJ? I had a 4.0 unweighed, a 2100, and was still waitlisted from NYU.</p>

<p>Go to the university in the region you would ultimately like to work. You go to, say, Villanova, you are going to have Philly/NY connections to the Big 4.</p>

<p>Im considering accounting for similar reasons, im planning on double majoring in Accounting with a concentration in Financial Analysis and Econ. Although im unsure what I want to do for a career from what ive read and heard accounting is a good degree for any job in business and employers are looking for people with that kind of background for jobs other than plain crunching numbers doing taxes which is the sterotypical view of accounting majors.</p>

<p>Why would you consider NYU in the first place? Although its accounting program is in the top 10, you are going to get the same big4 or whatever job as people from lesser know schools would. Yet, this mainly applies to accounting, but not to finance, marketing or other business fields. For instance, if you are in NY, you can go to Baruch College and pay a 5k tuition per year, instead of paying 45-50k at NYU. Many students from Baruch have the same internships as students from NYU have, but the main difference is that some people will graduate with a 200k debt, while others with no debt at all. Time to wake up. In addition, I recommend, to all , to watch this video:</p>

<p>[College</a> Conspiracy Scam in USA [HD] Full Version - Google search: ‘John Taylor Gatto’ - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>

<p>That is a really cool video. I love the graphics and animations.</p>

<p>The 2 basics of accounting</p>

<p>Boring but pays well.</p>

<p>All my accounting teachers tell me the same exact thing. If it weren’t for the pay no one would be an accountant.</p>

<p>@geo1113, I chose Boston and NY because ive always wanted to live in those cities. Plus i live in california so going to a private school like USD or Santa Clara University would be a lot more expensive than just going to a public school here. plus id prefer to go to a school without a religious affiliation. and Toshtemirov, that’s a good point, i realize going to a school like NYU would be unwise in comparison with going to a cheaper school. I guess ill end up choosing a school in a location that I like that isn’t ridiculously priced. Thank you all for the advice! :D</p>